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January 24, 2002 at 07:00 PM
NU Online News Service, Jan. 24, 5:08 p.m. – Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine discussed regulatory work on a settlement of a race-based investigation of ING Life Insurance Company of Georgia, Atlanta, as well as a separate investigation of prompt-payment concerns at Humana Employers Health Care of Georgia Inc.
Oxendine says work on a settlement to resolve an investigation of ING Life of Georgia for charging black policyholders higher premiums than white policyholders is “real close” to a settlement. “It is measured in weeks,” he continues. Points that still must be addressed include attorneys fees and technical points, Oxendine adds.
A spokeswoman for ING Life of Georgia said that she had no new developments to report.
Oxendine also commented on a $400,000 fine levied today against a Georgia affiliate of Humana Inc., Louisville, Ky.
The fine is the largest of its kind in Georgia history, Oxendine says.
Humana also paid a $15,039 prompt-pay fine in 2001, according to the Georgia Insurance Department.
The new fine is based on new reviews, the department says.
Georgia law requires that claims be paid within 15 working days or that a provider or policyholder be notified why a claim cannot be paid, the department says.
Oxendine says that, after an initial examination, companies were given 18 months to come into compliance with the state prompt pay law.
A total of 10 managed care companies other than Humana are under investigation for violation of prompt-pay laws, Oxendine says.
